Surface
albedo is both a forcing variable controlling the climate
and a sensitive indicator of environmental degradation.
Albedo varies in space and time as a result of both natural
processes (e.g. changes in solar position, snowfall and
vegetation growth) and human activities (e.g. clearing and
planting forests, sewing and harvesting crops, burning rangeland)
(GCOS, 2004). Since albedo depends on both the unique anisotropy
of the surface (related to the intrinsic composition and
structure of the land cover) and the atmospheric condition
at any time, remote sensing offers the only viable method
of measuring and monitoring the global heterogeneity of
albedo (Schaaf et al. 2006).

ECV
albedo standards report

As requested
by UNFCCC SBSTA/COP for its 23rd Session in Montreal, November
2005, GTOS is undertaking the assessment of the status of
the development of standards for each of the essential climate
variables in the terrestrial domain. The following report,
documentation and other material have been compiled for
albedo. We very much welcome your comments and inputs in
improving and completing the analysis. Please send any material
and comments to the GTOS
Secretariat.

Listed
below are the major references that have been identified
in regards to methodology and standards for albedo. Please
inform us if you are aware of any other documentation or
material which could be considered.

GCOS. 2004. Implementation
plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in support
of the UNFCCC. Report GCOS – 92 (WMO/TD No. 1219).
136p.

GCOS. 2006. Satellite-
based products for climate. Supplemental details to the
satellite- based component of the “Implementation
Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support
of the UNFCCC”, GCOS-107 (WMO/TD No. 1338). 90p.